April 11, 2014 ConvergenCe: mapping suCCess, wellbeing + empowerment Culbertson Family Foundation Fund becka tait, mD microsoft girl scouts, Hornets’ nest Council generationnation Charlotte bobcats Joan Zimmerman unC Charlotte metropolitan studies & extended academic programs unC Charlotte Community relations Jones lang lasalle mecklenburg County Community support services at&t latin american Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte Media partner in-Kind snyder’ s lance, inc Coca-Cola bottling Company Consolidated the women + girls research alliance gratefully acknowledges the generosity of its sponsors Back Cover Front Cover
Disclaimer: a photographer and videographer will be attending the 2014 summit on behalf of the women + girls research alliance, which reserves the right to use the images for the promotional purposes of the women + girls research alliance activities .
Elisabeth G. “Liz” HairJanuary 2, 1920 – March 19, 2014
Inside Front Cover Page 1
a compelling personal story and a strong record of commitment to issues affecting women and girls during her years of public service made her our ideal choice to keynote the 2014 summit .
senator snowe served three terms – from 1995-2013 – in the u .s . senate after serving 18 years in the u .s . House of representatives . the maine republican was the fourth woman in u .s . history to be elected to both houses of Congress and the first woman to serve in both houses of a state legislature and both houses of Congress .
senator snowe co-chaired the Congressional Caucus on women’s issues for more than 10 years .
in 2006, time magazine named her one of the top ten u .s . senators -- the only woman in the exclusive group . time wrote of snowe: “because of her centrist views and eagerness to get beyond partisan point-scoring, maine republican olympia snowe is in the center of every policy debate in washington . but while snowe is a major player on national issues, she also is known as one of the most effective advocates for her constituents .”
senator snowe chose not to seek reelection in 2012, citing hyper-partisanship leading to a dysfunctional Congress . Her book, “Fighting for Common ground: How we Can Fix the stalemate in Congress,” was published in may 2013 .
the women + girls research alliance welcomes senator snowe to the 2014 summit and the university of north Carolina at Charlotte .
our KeYnote speaKerthe women + girls research alliance is delighted to welcome
former u .s . senator olympia snowe of maine to its 2014 summit .
32
we are so pleased you have chosen to join us today for the 2014 summit: “Convergence: Mapping Success, WellBeing + Empowerment.”
in “Convergence,” we will explore the ways in which policy, education, health care, employment, race and ethnicity shape our lives and are, in turn, shaped by the lives we lead . in our latest research, presented today, we will revisit issues of wage parity and the effects of the recession on women . we’ll also dive deep in the challenges faced with homelessness, domestic violence and entrepreneurship in terms of gender and ethnicity .
we hope, by day’s end, each of you will feel enlightened by the voices you have heard and inspired by the passion to become or continue being an instrument for positive change in our community .
You will notice since the 2012 summit we have changed our name from the women’s summit to the women + girls research alliance to reflect our research and alliances with corporate, government and nonprofit partners, as well as with individuals . this work is key to fulfilling our mission: to be a catalyst for change, improving the lives of women and girls at all socio-economic levels through research, education and community engagement .
after the summit, please visit our website www.womengirlsalliance.uncc.edu where you can download the full reports on each research project . You also can sign up for our mailing list and tell us what you’re thinking on any relevant issues .
today, we invite you to tweet: @WGRACharlotte, #Convergence14.
thank you for being a part of the summit conference . we hope to see you again in 2016 . meanwhile, we hope this 2014 summit propels you to get involved in the great issues that affect women and girls in our community .
WElCOME TO THE 2014 SUMMiTof the Women + Girls research Alliance
alisa mcDonald, Chair women + girls research alliance advisory Council
Page 2 Page 3
5
DEBORAH AGUIAR-VÉLEZ founded sistemas Corporation in 1983 . the company provides customized software and training for Fortune 50 engineers, scientists and technical personnel . ms . aguiar-vélez is a member of the board of Directors of sbli usa mutual life insurance Company, inc ., where she also serves as the chair of the nominating, governance and Human resources Committee . ms . aguiar-vélez earned her bachelor’s degree
in chemical engineering with honors from the university of puerto rico in mayaguez, puerto rico, and has attended executive education programs at the amos tuck school of business administration, and the Harvard Kennedy school .
JANET COWELL is north Carolina’s treasurer and is the first woman to hold the office . Cowell oversees more than $80 billion in pension investments for the more than 875,000 teachers, firefighters, and public employees in north Carolina . as treasurer, she manages the 32nd largest public pension in the world and the third most solid in the nation . in 2013, treasurer Cowell was named one of the top 25 public pension executives in the
world by sovereign wealth Fund institute . Cowell is a wharton school of business alumna .
OPHELIA GARMON-BROWN, m .D ., m . Div ., is a family practitioner and senior vice president of physician services with novant Health (presbyterian Hospital) . she chairs the presbyterian Hospital ethics Committee and is a member of the executive Committee of presbyterian Hospital as well as novant medical group . Dr . garmon-brown serves as medical Director of the Charlotte Community Health Clinic, a free clinic for the poor and uninsured, and volunteers
at the Charlotte pregnancy Care Center . she also holds a master’s degree in divinity . she set up a mini-health clinic in Kenya and has done medical mission work in uganda, south africa, guyana, Jamaica and in locales across the united states . Dr . garmon-brown was named Charlotte woman of the Year in 2010 . in 2011, she won the thurgood marshall award and a lifetime achievement award from wells Fargo and the Charlotte business Journal . in 2012, she was named Family physician of the Year by the north Carolina academy of Family physicians
SHARON H. MATTHEWS,senior vice president and manager of Hr policy and Corporate employee relations at wells Fargo
GINA ESQUIVEL, Financial stability manager for Crisis assistance ministry
JENNIFER WEBER, executive vice president and Chief Human resources officer for Duke energy
ALISA MCDONALD, Director of Community involvement at Duke energy and vice president of Duke energy Foundation
4
SUZANNE LELAND, phD ., is a professor and Director of the gerald g . Fox master of public administration program at unC Charlotte . she teaches urban politics, intergovernmental relations and public relations and public administration and received her doctorate in political science from the university of Kansas . suzanne chairs the alliance research Committee .
KELLY GIBSON is a nationally certified activity Director, working over 16 years in assisted living communities and now at the ivey adult day care, planning and creating programs for members . she is sole proprietor of l .a .u .g .H ., laugh and u generate Happiness .
NANCY B. MCNELIS is assistant provost and managing Director of external relations for Queens university of Charlotte . she is the point person to better use Queens’s location in Charlotte to promote all academic programs . nancy is extensively involved in the Charlotte business and non-profit community, serves as a member of our advisory Council, and often is tapped for fundraising efforts due to her extensive network .
trailblaZers
CATHY BESSANT is global technology & operations executive at bank of america . bessant chairs bank of america’s environmental program and president of global Corporate banking and global treasury services and global product solutions; chief marketing officer; president of Consumer real estate and Community Development banking; national small business segment executive; and president of bank of america, Florida .
bessant currently chairs the board of directors of Foundation For the Carolinas and is lead director for Florida blue, formerly blue Cross and blue shield of Florida . named as one of Computerworld’s “2013 premier 100” it leaders, bessant also was no . 4 on the 2013 institutional investor tech 50 list of financial services leaders in technological achievement and innovation . was on american banker’s “25 most powerful women in banking” list for three consecutive years, and in 2011 was named “best Cio” by waters technology at the american Financial technology awards .
sonyia richardson, msw, lCsw, unC Charlotte, moderator John santopietro, m .D ., Carolinas HealthCare system samantha suffren, m .D ., rowan regional medical Center suzanne boyd, ph .D ., unC Charlotte Department of social work leesa l . bain rn, bsn, mHa, Cardinal innovations Healthcare solutions
Sheltering the Homeless: Charlotte’s response and successes STUN 262
eric Caratao, unC Charlotte urban institute lori thomas, unC Charlotte Health & Human services Deronda metz, msw, lCsw, salvation army Center of Hope
Wellbeing for You + Yours: building partnerships so you can care for yourself while caring for others STUN 266
shaunté evans, Charlotte Housing authority, moderator lynn ivey, the ivey nyaka niilampti, ph .D ., southeast psychological Janet Fortner, Family therapy Consultant
EMPOWERMENT
More Than Tiaras, Give Me Legos: increasing girls’ interest in science, technology, engineering and math (stem) STUN 267
marjorie benbow, moretz and skufka, pllC, moderator sandy marshall, project scientist Jaden barney, unC Charlotte mechanical engineering student sheetal ghelani, ph .D ., global strategic proposal Development
Women Make Great Leaders: leadership traits of authentic, successful women STUN 163
nancy gutierrez, ph .D ., unC Charlotte College of liberal arts and sciences, moderator Judy rose, unC Charlotte athletics lawana mayfield, Charlotte City Council angelina Corbet, the mobius Company
STUN student union COED College of education Continued on page 10
Beyond Gender: navigating your career when there’s more than one glass ceiling STUN 261
Chavon Carroll, teach for america, moderator Yana smith, teach for america Kamina Young, wells Fargo Carmen Concepcion, oaklawn language academy Kathryn mahan, Food buy
Entrepreneurship in Charlotte: women breaking barriers, improving communities and building success STUN 200
elizabeth shockey morrell, m .a ., unC Charlotte geography and earth sciences Claire schuch, unC Charlotte geography and earth sciences elina smith, all in one Drug testing Jennifer manchester, manchester auto and tire of mint Hill wendy shanahan, asterisk Creative Deborah aguiar-vélez, sistemas
Evolving with Technology: exploring the uses and applications of technology safely and appropriately STUN 265
Cindy Jones, unC Charlotte marketing services
WELLBEING
The Art of Volunteering: Finding your passion and getting involved in this volunteer-friendly town COED 010
lauren woodruff, bank of america, moderator Katherine mooring, arts & science Council Dean thompson, greater Carolinas red Cross sonja nichols, women’s impact Fund eric law, Handson Charlotte
Trailblazers: Charging Ahead, Leading the Way sharon matthews, wells Fargo, moderator state treasurer Janet Cowell Cathy bessant, bank of america Deborah aguiar-vélez, sistemas ophelia garmon-brown, m .D ., m .Div ., novant Health
YOU: Making a Difference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . nancy b . mcnelis, Queens university of Charlotte
April 11, 2014 unC Charlotte student union, 3rd Floor ballroom
Trailblazers: Charging Ahead, Leading the Way sharon matthews, wells Fargo, moderator state treasurer Janet Cowell Cathy bessant, bank of america Deborah aguiar-vélez, sistemas ophelia garmon-brown, m .D ., m .Div ., novant Health
YOU: Making a Difference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . nancy b . mcnelis, Queens university of Charlotte
April 11, 2014 unC Charlotte student union, 3rd Floor ballroom
prOGrAM
Pages 8 & 9 (Center Spread)
11
Standing Up for Your Health: navigating the health care system and being your own advocate STUN 263
marty Clontz, Community relations, moderator Christy Colgan, blueCross blueshield of north Carolina Jean veilleux, Charlotte school of law nena Harris, shelter Health services
EMPOWERMENT
Powerful Parenting: rearing our daughters and sons to succeed without stereotypes or self-limits STUN 200
tamera green, viridian marketing, moderator michelle icard, michelle in the middle Kelly Finley, unC Charlotte women and gender studies Christina Christian, ph .D ., bethune mays Classical academy
The Subtleties of Bias: recognizing and dealing with discrimination that might not be so obvious STUN 267
gina esquivel, Crisis assistance ministry, moderator willie ratchford, Charlotte Community relations Committee barbara bernier, Charlotte school of law octavia seawell, oZs Consulting Fannie Flono, the Charlotte observer
Women, Wages & Work: evaluating the impacts of the great recession and the changing economic reality STUN 262
melissa Duscha, mba, unC Charlotte public policy program ph .D . Candidate Daniel valdez, Crisis assistance ministry
Your Seat at the Political Table: why You are essential to the political process and how you can get involved STUN 261
tonya Jameson, Darling media, moderator stacy phillips, lincoln Harris vi lyles, Charlotte City Council Kate payerle, robinson, bradshaw and Hinson, pa elyse Dashew, public and Community advocate
STUN student union COED College of education
10
Concurrent Session ii: 11:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
SUCCESS
Mentoring Matters: why having and being a mentor is good for you and your career STUN 266
sadé Hamrick, unC Charlotte Communication studies student, moderator Dawn Chandler, ph .D ., Queens university of Charlotte toni Freeman, mint museum Carrie Cook, empowHerment Cierra Johnson, vance High school, mentee
YOU, Inc.: Creating and projecting a successful brand from elevator speech to image STUN 163
Krista newkirk, unC Charlotte office of the Chancellor, moderator sonya barnes, Harris-barnes international Fashion style academy penny sommer, powerful edge Coaching
Being the Only Woman: succeeding when you’re the only woman in the room COED 010
suzanne leland, ph .D ., unC Charlotte political science, moderator major sherie pearsall, Charlotte mecklenburg police Department Carolyn Flowers, Charlotte area transit system (Cats) Helen goldson, utC aerospace systems
WELLBEING
No More Silence: recognizing, treating and preventing domestic violence against girls and women STUN 265
marie white, mecklenburg County women’s Commission, moderator Jill Dinwiddie, enough campaign Kathy gauger, safe alliance rashida gittens, Duke energy Jamie adams, mecklenburg County Courts
Page 10 Page 11
13
EMPOWERMENT
Building Your Corner Office: becoming a successful entrepreneur STUN 265
wendy laxton, laxton CFo services, moderator antonia Childs, neet’s sweets michelle menard, Choicetranslating michelle serrano-mills, games for life Deborah bosley, D .a ., the plain language group
Lean In, Lean Out or Fall Over: mapping the career path that works for you and tips on being successful—whatever road you take STUN 261
sharon reed, global girls project, moderator glenda mauck, teach for america Debra plousha moore, Carolinas HealthCare system Karen popp, sidley austin llp
STUN student union COED College of education
12
Concurrent Session iii: 1:45 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.
SUCCESS
Understanding Privilege and the Myth of Choice: breaking the cycle of poverty STUN 267
lisa Yarrow, women + girls research alliance raquel lynch, Crisis assistance ministry
Show Me the Money: planning for your financial success STUN 263
tamika r . mcsweeney, tiaa-CreF, moderator shay prosser + Hallie Hawkins, get it together
WELLBEING
Exercising Your Mind, Body + Spirit: easing worry and getting results STUN 163
sophia Jordan-marshall, unC Charlotte recreational services
Finding Your People: Connecting with, building communities of women in all our diversity STUN 200
rosie molinary, author/lecturer, moderator whitni wertz, Junior league nancy b . mcnelis, Queens university of Charlotte sara miller, women of Color networking and Friendship Circle
Domestic Violence policy in the Workplace: why it matters and what Charlotte is doing about it . STUN 262
elizabeth wemlinger, ph .D ., unC Charlotte aDvanCe, moderator shanti Kulkarni, ph .D ., unC Charlotte Department of social work rashida gittens, Duke energy Jenny ward, Duke energy Connie Chaffins, verizon wireless
Page 12 Page 13
Foundation For The Carolinassince 1958, Foundation For the Carolinas has served as a catalyst for charitable good, connecting individuals, companies and organizations to needs and philanthropic opportunities across the region and beyond .
a community foundation deeply dedicated to the collective strength of communities, we work in close partnership with donors, civic leaders and nonprofits to help achieve a wide variety of charitable goals and to inspire philanthropy that will benefit generations to come . the foundation prides itself on the gender diversity of its staff, boards, donors and civic leaders and leverages the collective power of the women of our region as a catalyst for charitable good and is honored to support women-led organizations and initiatives to improve our entire community .
More Technologies. More Uniteduts aerospace systems has a proud history of innovation in aerospace and defense - innovation that is fueled by the diversity of our people .
we’re proud of the knowledge and expertise that our 40,000 associates bring to their roles every day . the life-long personal and professional development we offer to our team members around the world helps assure our future as an industry leader .
Bank of Americabank of america is one of the world’s largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services . the company provides unmatched convenience in the united states, serving approximately 50 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 5,100 retail banking offices and approximately 16,300 atms and award-winning online banking with 30 million active users and more than 14 million mobile users . bank of america is among the world’s leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world . bank of america offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services . the company serves clients through operations in more than 40 countries . bank of america Corporation stock (nYse: baC) is listed on the new York stock exchange .
Carolinas HealthCare SystemCarolinas HealthCare system, one of the nation’s leading and most innovative healthcare organizations, provides a full spectrum of healthcare and wellness services and programs throughout north and south Carolina . Carolinas HealthCare system works to improve and enhance the overall health and wellbeing of its communities through high quality patient care, education and research programs, and numerous collaborative partnerships and initiatives . Carolinas HealthCare system’s strong commitment to health and wellness includes focuses on chronic disease prevention and mental health, and reflects the diversity of the communitiesit serves .
15
www.duke-energy.com
Going above and beyond.
Real progress starts with people who are inspired to make a difference. At Duke Energy, inspiration is our fuel. It’s what drives us to generate the power of innovation. Here’s to those who look at things differently. Those who set the example. Those who inspire and serve others.
And with that, Duke Energy is proud to support the Women+Girls Research Alliance.
14
Page 14 Page 15
THANK YOU “thank you” cannot express how deeply grateful the women + girls alliance is to all of those who have worked so hard to make this 2014 summit a reality . today truly is a culmination of hundreds of woman hours . to enumerate all of those so deserving of our thanks is risky business, but we will try .
First, we must thank our advisory Council and, especially, Chair alisa mcDonald and Chair-elect gina esquivel . For almost two years, our Council led by alisa and gina has aimed “true north,” focusing on making this 2014 summit an educational and inspirational experience for everyone . many have given far above what they were asked, and none has refused when help was sought . thank you, Council members .
we must single out Committee Chairs -- marty Clontz, wendy laxton, Jenny bonk, sharon matthews, suzanne leland and Chavon Carroll -- and committee members who labored so hard through so many conference calls to get to today .
Kudos and thanks to nancy Klein for providing her expertise to create our 2014 biennial report . melissa Duscha, our graduate assistant, has been invaluable .
we especially appreciate the faculty, students and staff of unC Charlotte who volunteered or were recruited for the summit and who have supported us throughout the four years that we have been part of this great university . we are grateful also for the support of Chancellor phil Dubois, provost Joan lorden and associate provost owen Furuseth, who serves as an ex officio member of our advisory Council as well as our guide .
a number of volunteers today are helping to make your day the best it can be, and we thank those purple-teed friends of the summit .
we are blessed to have so many partners and friends who believe in the alliance and our research, and who sponsor both today’s activities and the research that propels us here . without them, the summit literally could not take place . we do not take lightly our responsibilities to our partner-sponsors, and we thank you for your financial and in-kind support .
we gratefully acknowledge the invaluable assistance of Carol Correll, our administrative assistant and the glue who holds us together . we thank Carolyn aguiar, who finds ways to direct us when we are in need, and we thank our interns, erin rehley and Joneka percentie . it is so rewarding to see students who very early have recognized the immense importance of women and girls taking their rightful places in our community .
Finally, we thank all of you who have joined us today out of a mutual belief that what benefits the women and girls of Charlotte-mecklenburg benefits our entire community and who want to have a voice in making opportunities equally available to all .
